How do you say goodbye in Spanish?

Say adiós or hasta luego to anyone, nos vemos to people you'll see again, and buenas noches when you leave in the evening.

  • adiósUnit 1

    goodbye (The accent puts the stress on the end.)

  • Hasta luego.Unit 2

    See you later.

    The everyday goodbye, even if you won't see them again today.

  • Nos vemos.Unit 2

    See you.

  • Nos vemos mañana.Unit 2

    See you tomorrow.

  • Adiós, buenas noches.Unit 2

    Goodbye, good night.

What do people say when you leave a shop?

In Mexico, people serving you often say Que le vaya bien ("have a good day", literally "may it go well for you"), and the polite answer is Igualmente, gracias ("you too, thanks").

  • Que le vaya bien.Unit 2

    Have a good day. (literally "may it go well for you"; polite)

  • Igualmente, gracias.

    You too, thanks.

  • Para servirle. ¡Que tenga buen día!Speak

    Happy to help. Have a nice day!

    Rosa at the Metro station, after helping you.

How do you say "take care" in Spanish?

Say Cuídate to a friend ("take care"); to someone you call usted, Cuídese.

  • Cuídate.Unit 10

    Take care. (to a friend)

  • Cuídese.

    Take care. (polite, to someone you call usted)

What mistakes do English speakers make with goodbyes?

The usual mistakes are thinking adiós sounds too final, taking hasta luego as a promise to meet later that day, and leaving without answering que le vaya bien.

  • Adiós isn't dramatic. It's a normal goodbye, like "bye"; it doesn't mean "farewell forever".
  • Hasta luego doesn't promise anything. People say it to a cashier they'll never see again.
  • Not answering Que le vaya bien. A quick Igualmente ("you too") is polite.
  • Saying hasta mañana on a Friday to someone you'll see Monday. Use Nos vemos el lunes ("see you Monday").

How can you practice saying it out loud?

Say it to someone who answers. In CiaoSpeak's Spanish course, set in Mexico City, the lessons teach these goodbyes with a recording and a note on when to use it, and in the Speak tab a character in a real scene (a barista, a taxi driver, your language-exchange partner Ana) talks to you and you answer out loud. The app tells you whether a person would understand you, with one gentle fix if not. Lessons are free; in the Speak tab, today's questions (up to five a day) are free too, and CiaoSpeak+ adds practice in any scene whenever you like. More phrases: how to say everyday things in Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

Is adiós rude in Spanish?

No. Adiós is a normal, polite goodbye. In everyday Mexico, people also say hasta luego and nos vemos, but adiós is never rude.

What does que le vaya bien mean?

Que le vaya bien means "have a good day" or "take care", literally "may it go well for you". Shopkeepers, drivers and waiters say it as you leave; answer Igualmente, gracias.

What is the difference between hasta luego and nos vemos?

Both mean "see you", and both are fine with anyone. Hasta luego is slightly more polite; nos vemos is friendly and very common in Mexico.